April 20th walkout

Approximately 26 LPHS students joined the National School Walkout and congregated outside of the Courthouse on Friday, April 20th.

This national walkout was organized in support of ending gun violence and advocating for new regulations or stricter laws on guns in America. On the National Student Walkout’s website, http://act.invisible.org, the event was described as “a nationwide protest of our leaders’ failure to pass laws that protect us from gun violence. Mass shootings happen far too frequently in America, and we as a nation have become numb to seeing the news. Together, we will send a message that we won’t tolerate any more inaction on this issue.”

At 10 a.m., the students who wanted to join the march and were called out by their parents were released from class and began their walk to the Courthouse. A few police officers, including the School Resource Officer, drove around and parked at different locations on the way to ensure student safety. One even turned on his lights and stopped traffic at a crosswalk to let the students walk across the street.

Once the students arrived at the Courthouse, they set up along the sidewalk, facing one of the busiest streets in town. They held up signs that they made, some which read: “We will prevail #Vote #Enough,” “We are the world. We are the children. We are the change,” and also “Girls’ clothing in school is more regulated than guns in America.”

From 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m., the group of teens proceeded with their peaceful protest, cheering whenever they received honks of support from passing cars and leading chants.

A couple of weeks before the scheduled walkout, LPHS juniors Rebecca Eyrick and Delaney Bluhm spread word about the planned details to walk to the Courthouse through social media. They also shared a Google survey to collect the number of students who wanted to join and encouraged their fellow peers to make and bring signs.

“I realized how common shootings were becoming and that inspired me to help organize these marches for my school. When the marches or walkouts came up, I knew I had to jump in,” Eyrick said.

This walkout was held on April 20th to honor the 19 year anniversary of the Columbine massacre where 13 students were shot and killed. LPHS was one of hundreds of schools across the country where students took part.